The temple-pyramids were one of the Mayans most impressive achievements. The massive stone structures were built in the heart of Mayan cities. Mathematical Practices: 1, 2, 4, 7, 8 CCSS: 4.MD.3, 5.MD.1, 5MD.3, 5MD.4, 5.MD.5, 6.RP.3d, 6.G.2, 7.RP.1, 7.G.1, 7.G.6, 8.G.9, Arkansas Social Studies Frameworks: History H , H Arkansas Science Frameworks: Physical Science PS Card 1

The pyramids were built in layers of walls on top of one another. Each wall was smaller than the one below it. The top of the pyramid was a temple for the priests to go and communicate to the Gods. The outside was covered with a thick layer of mud (stucco). When the mud dried is was painted in bright colors. Card 2

Use the blocks to make a pyramid that is 3 walls high and has a temple on top. The bottom wall should have 5 blocks on each side. The temple on the top is made of 4 blocks, the dimensions are 2 by 2 by 1. Pyramid 1Card 3

Use the blocks to make a pyramid with a base wall that is 6 units by 6 units and is two units tall. There are 4 walls and all are the same height. Each one has a width and length of one unit less than the one below it. The height of the temple is double the height of a wall and is 2 units wide on each side. Pyramid 2Card 4

Use the blocks to make a pyramid that is 3 walls high and has a temple on top. Use the appropriate tools to determine the edge length of a cube. The bottom wall has a perimeter of 48 cm. Each of the walls are 8 cm less than the one below it. The temple on top is 6 cm by 6 cm by 6 cm. Pyramid 3Card 5

A pyramid is 3 walls high. Each wall is 1 block tall and 1 block thick. The base wall has 4 blocks on each side, the next has 3, and the next has 2 on each side. Build a pyramid that is similar, but with dimensions that are doubled. The temple on the original pyramid is made of only 1 block. Make sure the new temple is also similar, with dimensions doubled. Pyramid 4Card 6

Pyramid 1: Measuring in units….. 1. What is the area of the ground that is covered by the pyramid? ____________ 2. Explain how you know the length of the 2 nd and 3 rd walls._______________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ 3. What is the height of the pyramid? ___________ 4. What is the volume of space that would be available for burying things inside the pyramid? _________ Pyramid 2: Measuring in units….. 5. Draw the top and front views of this pyramid. TOP:FRONT: 6. How would these views relate to the other views? ___________________________________________ 7. What is the height of the pyramid? ___________ 8. What is the volume of space that would be available for burying things inside the pyramid? __________ Pyramid 3: Measuring in centimeters….. 9. How many blocks are needed to construct the bottom wall? ____________ 10. If a real pyramid measured 60 meters by 60 meters how many meters does one block represent?______ 11. What does 1 cm on the model represent in meters on the real pyramid? __________ Pyramid 4: Measuring in units… Estimate how many times bigger the one you built is, than the one described._______ 13. How many blocks are needed to construct the base level? ____________ 14. How many cubic units are open in each level? _________________________________ 15. Verify how many times larger the pyramid you built is, than the one described. ___________________________________________________________________________________________

ANSWER KEY: square units 2. They have to be smaller each time, and there are 2 walls between the 1 st one of 5 units and the tower of 2 units, so the walls must be 4 and 3 units long units cubic units 5. 6.The top and bottom are the same size, in the drawing we see the surface of ½ a cube at each level. Students may simply say they are alike, 6 x 6 units each, and that may be correct if you are at a great enough distance. This is a good opportunity for discussion. The front view will the identical to the back and right and left sides units 7.60 cubic units meters 11.Answers may vary Base: 32 cubic units… 2 nd level: 8 cubic units… 3 rd level: 0 cubic units 14.It takes 200 blocks to construct the model and only 25 to construct the one described. Therefore it is a ratio of 200:25, or 8:1, meaning it is 8 times larger. Since each dimension is doubled and there are 3 dimensions, it’s a change of 2 x 2 x 2, or a total of 8 times.